Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has sent an email to all his players at Old Trafford outlining his vision and what he expects from them in the coming season.
The Dutchman has arrived from Ajax and is tasked with a major rebuild at Old Trafford over the coming years. He is inheriting a squad that has been slimmed down from last season as Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Edinson Cavani, Nemanja Matic and Lee Grant have all departed at the end of their contracts.
Ten Hag is under pressure to rejuvenate the squad and improve United, who are coming off the back of a shambolic campaign, which saw them finish 11 points off fifth-placed Arsenal and 35 points from champions Manchester City. United's struggles were amplified by finishing the season without a positive goal difference and with defeats in each of their last six away matches.
Poor performances on the pitch were complemented by consistent reports of dressing room discontent and training ground bust-ups. United's squad is full of quality names and big personalities but Ten Hag has been tasked with forming a clear identity in playing style and team spirit within the ranks.
The new boss has begun addressing these issues with an email sent to his playing squad, which has underlined the urgency of this process. Ten Hag told his players that the emphasis is on the team rather than individuals and no player would be above this mantra, with nobody seen as un-droppable or above the needs of the collective.
That is the key mantra of Ten Hag, which acts a major departure from the final months under interim coach Ralf Rangnick. The German's ill-fated spell in the Old Trafford dugout was filled with multiple figures in the dressing room pulling in different directions – not helped by the fact that half a dozen players were planning to leave the club at the end of the campaign with a fractured squad.
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Ten Hag's email also reiterated the need for greater intensity in the club's training regime and the need to approach each session with the same mindset as they would have on matchday. The players were promised that under his coaching methods, their fitness levels would increase and be at the optimum that it has been in their careers.
The former Ajax boss also pledged that those who follow his instructions and coaching regime will be rewarded while those who fail to show improvement will be replaced with younger players at the club.
Ten Hag has shown his hand to the players with a two-pronged approach of more cohesion and identity, fused with greater fitness levels. United's playing squad are currently either on international duty or enjoying the close-season on holiday before returning to their first pre-season under the new boss later this summer.
